ABBOTT MUST STOP HOCKEY GETTING HIS HANDS ON THE NDIS

Media Release

Jenny Macklin MP.

Shadow Minister for Families and 

Payments and Disability Reforms

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Tony Abbott must immediately rule out any cuts or delays to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), following Joe Hockey’s false and outrageous claims in the Parliament today. Make no mistake - the NDIS is fully funded into the future.

Labor made sure of it so that people with disability, their families and carers would have the certainty they deserve. That is why we introduced a half a percentage point increase in the Medicare levy, raising more than $20 billion between 2014-15 and 2018-19. Every cent of this money will go towards funding the NDIS. Legislation for this change was passed unanimously by the Parliament in May last year.

Tony Abbott voted for it. So did Joe Hockey. In last year’s Budget, Labor invested an additional $14.3 billion over seven years to rollout the NDIS across the country. Again, this money is in the Budget. Labor made a number of responsible decisions to ensure funding security for the NDIS, such as means testing the Private Health Insurance Rebate.

 Joe Hockey’s disgraceful performance in the Parliament today has clearly put on notice his plans to cut funding from the NDIS. More than 2,500 people with disability and their carers are now getting the support and care they need because of the NDIS. Tony Abbott must pull the Treasurer into line and rule out making any cuts or delays to the NDIS.